Over a year later

It’s ok, you can say it. It has been a year an a half sense I posted my last blog entry. So why do I even bother keeping it up? Why don’t I just scrap it? And the simple answer is: Becuase I wrote a blog post a long time ago about a function of word press that is still getting 25+ hits a day and I feel really good about myself when I think that total strangers actually are helped out by my post.

To tell the truth, I work all day in front of a computer, typing e-mails and responses on our support ticket to answer people questions ALL DAY long. When I get home the last thing I want to do is turn the computer on (However I have recently been hooked into the Garden’s of Time game on Facebook). So I have gone over a year and a half because I just don’t feel like writing any more.

I recently moved closer to my work place. This has been great since commuting 7 miles instead 65 miles has really helped out with the amount of money I spend to put gas in the tank. I now live in Charlotte NC. To give a comparison, Charlotte is about the same size and scope as Passadena California. Kind of sad with you realize that Charlotte is the second largest City in NC next to the capitol. But it does mean that we are finally finding place to eat and cool things to do that we did not have in Moresville.

Work is going really well, and I really love my job. Yes, there are days when I want to beat my co-works and customers alike with a 2×4, but I have a lot more good days then bad, and who can complain about that? My wife has started her own beauty blog. Check it out, I’ve put a link under the family section in my blog roll.

Well, that’s all I really have time for right now. I am on vacation this week so I may get the change to post more. So until next time.

Somthing to Show For It

So, since I’ve managed to obtain ful time employment, my blog entries are non-existant. Something about working infront of a computer all day, driving home, and wanting to spend time with my wife instead of an other computer.

So my Dad asked me a few weeks ago if we had any pictures of where we live, so he can see what North Carolina looks like. So here are some pics that my amazing wife took while on a sight seeing excersion with her Mom to see local senery.

Lake Norman Marrina

Mooresville is a lake side town. This is a shot of Lake Norman form one of the not-so-public docks.

Line of Docked Sail Boats

Yes, the Lake is big enough for sail boats.

Typical North Carolina Walking Path

Everywhere I go, I find trees. Not like where I grew up, but thick mini forests that are EVERYWHERE. This pic show just how thick.

Statue for the Fallen

One of the ironys of living in the South. Notice this statue for the fallen who gave their life for their state in durring the Civil War. Notice the Flag on the right, and the flag engraved on the base of the statue. And Notice the trees?

Old Jeff Gordan Car

Mooresville is the home of NASCAR. By that, I mean that many of the teams acutally test, build, and live, in Mooresville and the surrounding area. This is an old retired Jeff Gordan Car that is just sitting in the parking lot of one the race team shops. Just sitting there collecting dust! Becuase NASCAR is such a common element here that it’s no big deal to the locals. Again, Notice the trees?

Mooresville PD

So much a part of this place that Moorseville PD paints their cars like checkered flags, and sport the Town motto “Race City USA”. Are there trees in this picture too?

English Ivy

And my last pic I will post is a shot of, you guessed it, more trees. This one is different becuase it shows one of the biggest issues North Carolina has with plants. English Ivy is everywhere. This stuff grows over whole acers of trees, takes over tellophone pools and their wires, and is almost impossible to get rid of becuase it grows back so quickly.

So in summary, what does North Carolina look like? It’s green, wet, and full of NASCAR fans.

First Week is Over

So I completed my first full week of work for my new employer. Imagine is a company that makes a software package designed to help correctly bill medical services. What do I know about medical billing…absolutely nothing. But, thankfully I do know a bit about how to do tech support.

So how did my first week go? Really well. Apparently the annual users conference was held on Monday and Tuesday, so there was hardly anyone in the office to meet. I was given a large amount of reading to start with, and asked to shadow some people to get an idea of the process of how tech support is handled at imagine. Wednesday was a little bit different. I was given a hard copy of the user’s manual for the main portion of the product I will be supporting. It was over 1300 pages long. So I was a little over whelmed at the prospect of having to get all that information shoved inside my head as fast as possible.

All in all, the week went very smoothly. My boss is a great guy who, in the short time I’ve been there, has shown a great ability to be friendly but still crack the whip when needed. The ladies I work with (yes, beside from my boss I am the only other male in the department) are all cool and easy going. I feel like I was welcomed in as part of the team.

What am I worried about…not knowing what to worry about. On the one hand I’m a little intimidated by the amount of information being thrown at me. On the other hand, most of what I’m having to learn really has to do with the process of getting a procedure billed, and paid for, because it is complicated when you try to get insurance companies to pay for something. I’m sure that I will do very well, once I have had a few weeks to get the terminology and processes down.

So it was a great week of work. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

He shoots…He scores!!!!!!

Today is a good day. Today is the day that I can breath for a bit, enjoy the great weather outside, get some things done around the house, and bask in the lifting of a huge burden. I got a job offer!

Now, in light of the recent stuff that has bee happening on the internet with people getting job offers, and then saying something stupid that results in the offer being pulled, I’m not going into details. But I have an offer! That means I made it thought the interview process and they actually want me! It’s so nice to feel wanted. We just need to get though the formalities of the hiring process, and I should start latter this month.

OK, so now that I breathed…I am not off the hook as far as stress goes. If I start this job latter this month, that means I will not see any kind of a pay check until next month. So there are these nice people, like utility companies, grocery stores, gas stations, that seem to need this thing called money. And if you try to reason with them and explain that you will pay them back latter, then they call these nice people with guns to cart you away, or just turn off luxuries like your power and your gas. I might be able to find some work with Tek Systems in this time, but I basically have about 2 weeks (starting today) to pay for a whole month’s worth of expenses.

My wife and I found out about the job offer on Friday, so we celebrated by…well dancing around and jumping for joy ( that kind of celebration is free). Today starts the last part of the trek out of a dark tunnel. This job almost seems to have to have come too late for us to make things work, but I refuse to be beat down. I have a few contacts, I know a few people, and God has gotten us this far so there is no reason why he won’t provide what we need to get to the end.

Maybe this is just a lesson that I need to keep learning in life. There are people who care for me, who are willing to help me when the can. And God has always been watching my back, and saving me at the last minuet when things get really bad. I just have to hold on and wait, and see what he pulls out of his sleeve this time. I’m not going to mention a dollar value of what I need to make this month’s obligations, but it’s not impossible if I just don’t give up and keep asking people for work. I got a job offer. I’m on a roll now and just need to keep it up.

More waiting

I have a friend who wrote a book called, “When God Takes to Long.” That seems to be a reoccurring theme in my life. But I’m in a place right now where I really have no choice other than wait, so I may as well not get depressed about it.

The job with Lowe’s through Tek Systems did not pan out. I was told the person they were planning on filling in for with a Temp, decided not to take time off after all. So I lost out on that opportunity. But I’m confident that if one comes up again, I’ll be first in line.

In more hopeful news, I had a second round interview with a software company in Charlotte this week. It went really well; or at least I think it went really well. I should know by the end of today, or early next week, weather or not they are going to offer me the job. They only called back 3 candidates for the position, so my chances are 1 in 3.

All in all, more ups then downs, but I’m currently on an up so I’m going to stay positive.

Bad and Good at the Same Time

This last month has been a bit of a roller coaster. What with weird weather and all, as well as my job search. It started with a really great thing, I was assigned by Tek Systems to work on a move for a company. The company was relocating their warehouse from one side of Charlotte to the other, and they needed help with moving all their office, shipping, and receiving computers. Two solid days of work, and they fed us. All the people helping with the move, employees and contractors like me, were fed. And not just fed, we eat like kings. They did cheese burgers, hot dogs, and all the snacks you wanted for the first night, Toasted Sub Sandwiches for lunch the next day, and BBQ for dinner to close it all out. And they had an unlimited supply of sodas thought out the project, and the staff we worked with were very cool and great to work with. It was, the best assignment I’ve had so far with Tek Systems.

Then I found out that I have no more projects to work on for my old company, Laser App. While this is a devastating blow to my already small income, I don’t harbor any ill will. I knew that the moment they offered me the chance to work on stuff, while no longer an employee, it was out of the kindness of the owner’s hart. The hours started to shrink, and have finally been reduced to nothing. I’m sure that every one and then they will ask me to test something, or help out with the Knowledge Base, but I have officially end the work I agreed to do before leaving California. I still thank God every day for the chance to work for Laser App, and for how much that company has taken care of me these last 2 years.

Then I interview for a couple of jobs in Charlotte, and one came back as an absolute “No”. However, there is a software company that has not gotten back to me yet, who I think I would be a very good fit for. They are closing their interview this week and I should know soon weather or not they want me.

Finally, there is today. I got a phone call earlier this week from Tek Systems, wanting to know if I was interested in a week’s worth of work. I said, “Any work is good work,” and they set me up for a meeting today. I have been part of a Tek Systems install team assigned to a computer move for Lowes for that last couple of months. They like the work that I’ve been doing, and have heard good things about me. Apparently they are down a person on their dedicated deployment team, and were looking for a temp to fill the spot. I met with three people form that team today, and it seemed like they were positive. I don’t know any specifics about the job yet, but I’m excited. Any chance to work with Lowes, who is right in my back yard, is a good opportunity. I think the team members I met with were really glad to here that I live less then 10 minuets away, as most of their team lives much further than that. I should know soon weather or not they are going to take me, or ask Tek Systems for someone else.

So all in all, lots of good, a very big bad, and I’m still hanging in there.

Lowes is a No Go

Well, after waiting on pins and needles, I have been turned down for the Tech Support Position at Lowes. At lest it was a nice rejection. I has placed a call to the manager who the position would be working for, asking if a decision had been made, and received an automated e-mail with the bad news. She called me the next day and said that the person who was picked over me, not only had just completed their 4 year CS degree, but was also an 8 year employee with Lowes. She encouraged me to apply again the next time something came up because the team really liked the way I interviewed.

One of the reasons I wanted to work for Lowes is because of the way they take care of their employees. Well…I did not get the job for that very reason.

In other news, I interviewed for another Tech Support position with a software company this week, and should know by next week if they want me for the job.

The View from my front porch this morning

After a somewhat bitter diatribe about how people in North Carolina freak out at the drop of the hat, here is something a little more lighthearted. I woke up this morning and was greeted with this view from my front porch. I thought it was pretty.